Council defeats claim brought on behalf of 101 year old over care home closure – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 1st, 2014 in care homes, elderly, equality, judicial review, local government, news by tracey

‘A city council has successfully defended a High Court challenge brought on behalf of a 101-year-old resident over its decision to close her care home.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th Spetember 2014

Source:  www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bar Council publishes third representational annual report – The Bar Council

Posted September 22nd, 2014 in advocacy, barristers, budgets, costs, diversity, equality, fees, legal aid, news, reports by sally

‘The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today published the third edition of its annual report, ‘Representing the Bar’, which focuses on the organisation’s representational activities and performance against key strategic aims for 2013-14.’

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The Bar Council, 19th September 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Victims’ Rights, the EU Charter, and Passport Confiscation – the Human Rights Roundup – UK Human Rights Blog

‘In recent news, the government outlines proposals for increased rights for the victims of crime, as well as for the revocation and confiscation of passports for ISIS fighters returning to the UK. In other news, the legality of the EU Charter comes back to haunt Chris Grayling once again.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th September 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The public sector equality duty and priority need – NearlyLegal

‘In Kanu v Southwark LBC [2014] EWCA Civ 1085, the Court of Appeal considered whether the public sector equality duty added an additional obligation on housing officers when they came to consider whether an applicant had a priority need. As you will all know the public sector equality is an obligation placed on public authorities by s.149, Equality Act 2010 to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation; advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Broken down, when someone is disabled, the duty further requires an authority to have due regard to the need to take steps to take account of a person’s disability.’

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NearlyLegal, 7th September 2014

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Mothers’ names to be added to UK marriage registers in equality move – The Guardian

‘The names of couples’ mothers are to be added to marriage registers for the first time as the government addresses “another inequality in marriage” by introducing the first reforms to the system in more than 150 years, David Cameron has announced.’

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The Guardian, 18th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Supreme Court agrees to hear case on eviction and disability discrimination – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court has issued a last-minute order to prevent the eviction of a disabled social housing tenant.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 6th August 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Arguably Serious – Aster Communities Ltd v Akerman-Livingstone – NearlyLegal

‘Aster Communities Ltd (formerly Flourish homes Ltd) v Akerman-Livingstone [2014] EWCA Civ 1081 (30 July 2014) is an extraordinary decision that will – if allowed to stand – have a significant impact on the day-to-day management of possession claims in the county court.’

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NearlyLegal, 5th August 2014

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Church faces legal challenge after blocking job offer to married gay priest – The Guardian

‘The first priest to marry his same-sex partner is to issue a legal challenge to the Church of England after his offer of a job as an NHS chaplain was withdrawn when his bishop refused the necessary permission.’

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The Guardian, 4th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Aster Communities Ltd (formerly Flourish homes Ltd) v Akerman-Livingstone – WLR Daily

Aster Communities Ltd (formerly Flourish homes Ltd) v Akerman-Livingstone [2014] EWCA Civ 1081; [2014] WLR (D) 350

‘In possession proceedings the court should approach a defence based on disability discrimination under section 15 of the Equality Act 2010 in the same way as it would approach one based on article 8 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as scheduled to the Human Rights Act 1998.’

WLR Daily, 30th July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Kanu v Southwark London Borough Council – WLR Daily

Posted July 31st, 2014 in appeals, disabled persons, equality, homelessness, law reports, local government by michael

Kanu v Southwark London Borough Council [2014] EWCA Civ 1085;  [2014] WLR (D) 344

‘Where an applicant with a disability sought housing assistance as homeless, section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010 did not require a housing authority to do any more than was required by the Housing Act 1996. The public sector equality duty in section 149 of the 2010 Act could not extend to requiring a housing authority to secure accommodation for a disabled person in circumstances where his disability did not render him vulnerable.’

WLR Daily, 29th July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Regina (Rotherham Borough Council and others) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills – WLR Daily

Posted July 30th, 2014 in budgets, EC law, equality, judicial review, law reports by sally

Regina (Rotherham Borough Council and others) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills [2014] EWCA Civ 1080; [2014] WLR (D) 338

‘Where decisions were made by a minister of state concerning matters of high level policy and economic, social and political judgment, involving the making of choices as to allocations of European Union structural funding between the four regions of the United Kingdom with the objectives, achievable in many different ways, of implementing the delivery of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth while promoting the harmonious development of the Union and reducing regional disparities, a wide margin of discretion was afforded the decision-maker, with which a court should only interfere if satisfied that the decisions were manifestly inappropriate or manifestly wrong.’

WLR Daily, 28th July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Law Society Sharia wills guidance “cannot change the law”, justice minister says – Legal Futures

‘The government has refused to be drawn into the row over controversial advice from the Law Society on Sharia-compliant wills, but insisted that it “does not, and cannot, change the law”.’

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Legal Futures, 28th July 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court set to rule on rights of trafficked Nigerian girl – The Independent

‘The UK’s highest court will rule on a landmark decision of whether illegal immigrants should be deprived of fundamental workers’ rights, following the appeal of a Nigerian national who was trafficked into the UK. Judges from the Supreme Court, including Britain’s most senior female judge Lady Hale, will deliver the verdict on Wednesday in a case which could set an important precedent for the rights of workers found to be treated as modern-day slaves.’

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The Independent, 27th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cary v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Cary v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) [2014] EWCA Civ 987; [2014] WLR (D) 320

‘The Court of Appeal gave guidance as to the procedure for the appointment of assessors in discrimination cases under the Equality Act 2010.’

WLR Daily, 17th July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Local Authority Focus – July 2014 – Family Law Week

Posted July 18th, 2014 in care orders, costs, equality, fostering, judicial review, local government, news by tracey

‘Sally Gore, barrister, of Fenners Chambers considers recent case law and other developments of particular significance to local authorities.’

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Family Law week, 17th July 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Plan to stop non-residents getting Legal Aid is unlawful, rules High Court – UK Human Rights Blog

‘House of Lords is scheduled to vote on the Government’s proposals for a residence test for access to legal aid, Angela Patrick, Director of Human Rights Policy at JUSTICE considers today’s judgment of the Divisional Court in PLP v Secretary of State for Justice.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 15th July 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Women bishops vote welcomed by Archbishop of Canterbury – BBC News

Posted July 15th, 2014 in Church of England, clergy, equality, news, sex discrimination, women by tracey

‘The Archbishop of Canterbury has welcomed the Church of England’s historic vote to allow women to become bishops.’

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BBC News, 15th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Scales of justice still unbalanced for female judges – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2014 in child abuse, diversity, equality, inquiries, judges, judiciary, news, women by sally

‘The lord chief justice admitted progress on diversity is too slow, while Chris Grayling’s offer of ‘partnership’ should be eyed warily.’

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The Guardian, 10th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Marriage certificate could include mothers’ name – BBC News

Posted July 7th, 2014 in documents, equality, marriage, names, news by sally

‘Mothers’ names could be included on marriage certificates in England and Wales, under plans being considered by the Home Office.’

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BBC News, 4th July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Black female officer discriminated against by Met Police, tribunal finds – Daily Telegraph

‘Britain’s biggest force faces a large compensation claim as a tribunal rules Carol Howard was treated unfairly because of her sex and race.’

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Daily Telegraph, 1st July 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk